Volaris reported this Thursday that the temporary request it made for wet leasing, of up to seven aircraft, for a limited period of up to 43 days, was to guarantee the trips already scheduled by its clients during the high season at the end of the year.
This scheme “coupled with the arrival during the following days of three new Airbus aircraft, will allow us to protect those passengers who fly to meet their loved ones during the December festivities.”
In a statement, the low-cost airline defended the measure that was validated by the Federal Civil Aviation Agency (AFAC) and that has caused disagreement among the pilots’ union in Mexico because the crews were considered to be foreigners.
“Volaris made this decision due to the increase in the number of revisions to the NEO engines of the manufacturer Pratt C Whitney (PCW), scheduled for December 2025 and January 2026, higher than originally planned and which would reduce the availability of aircraft during this season,” it was explained.
These revisions have caused the planes to be grounded for more than seven months.
Because the same situation has been experienced Vivaalso resorted to a similar model of aircraft leasing also from Malta.
In relation to the labor part, the airline specified that it reaffirms its commitment to its ambassadors and to the Union of Aeronautical Industry Workers (STIA), with whom it has agreed that:
- There will be no effects on the workforce.
- Consequently: no collaborator will see their working hours, flight hours and income reduced.
- In addition, he specified that all flights will have members of the Volaris crew.
“It should be noted that this procedure, which has been recently used by other national operators, is supported by articles 83 Bis of the Convention on International Civil Aviation; article 45, last paragraph of the Civil Aviation Law; article 4 of the Regulations of the Civil Aviation Law, and Mandatory Circular CO AV-08.3/20,” Volaris detailed in a statement.
This week, the AFAC He also ruled out that the authorization contravenes the Law.
“This measure does not constitute cabotage, since the operations will be carried out by a Mexican airline with authorized aircraft, without intervention by foreign operators,” he stated.
